Evaluation of Dry Matter, Starch and Beta-Carotene Content in Orange
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Vol. 10(11) pp. 320-326, November 2016 DOI: 10.5897/AJFS2016.1471 Article Number: 5CAB0F260709 ISSN 1996-0794 African Journal of Food Science Copyright © 2016 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article http://www.academicjournals.org/AJFS Full Length Research Paper Evaluation of dry matter, starch and beta-carotene content in orange-fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) genotypes tested in three agro-ecological zones of Malawi D. M. Kathabwalika, E. H. C. Chilembwe and V. M. Mwale* Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), Bunda College Campus, P.O.Box 219, Lilongwe, Malawi. Received 31 May, 2016; Accepted 3 August, 2016 Evaluation of dry matter, starch, beta-carotene content and stability of eight orange-fleshed sweet potato genotypes was conducted at Bunda College in Malawi. Genotypes LU06/0527, LU06/0252, LU06/0428, LU06/0299, LU06/0258, BV/009, Kenya and Zondeni were evaluated. The genotypes were grown in three agro-ecological zones of Malawi namely Maseya in Chikhwawa District representing low altitude areas with hot climate; Bunda in Lilongwe District representing medium altitude with warm climate and Bembeke in Dedza District representing high altitude areas with cool climate. Harvested tubers were evaluated for dry matter, starch and beta-carotene content using spectrophotometry. Analysis of variance on the main effects between genotypes and environments as well as Interaction Principle Component Analysis (IPCA) for the residual multiplication interaction between genotypes and environments for beta-carotene content in the eight genotypes were conducted. Results showed significant differences in dry matter, starch and beta-carotene content among genotypes and across sites. Zondeni produced highest dry matter (34.4%) while BV/009 was the least (26.8%). Genotype LU06/0252 produced highest beta-carotene (6793.2 μg/100 g) followed by Zondeni (5620.9 μg/100 g). Beta-carotene content increased significantly with decreasing altitude and was highest at Maseya (4258.5 μg/100 g) followed by Bunda (3556.2 μg/100 g). Stability analysis showed that Kenya (SPN/O) was the most stable genotype in beta-carotene content across the sites. Bembeke was the most stable site while Maseya recorded highest beta-carotene content but was unstable site. Key words: Orange-fleshed sweet potato, agro-ecological zones, beta-carotene content, starch content, dry matter content. INTRODUCTION Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is an important root crop in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) region and ranks *Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Author(s) agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Kathabwalika et al. 321 Table 1. Description of locality and elevation in metres above sea level (masl) of the sites. Average Elevation Average rainfall Study site Locality Soil type temperature (°C) (masl) (mm/annum) 16° 04’ S Maseya 29.5 Alfisols 200 600 34° 80’ E 14° 12’ S Bunda 20.0 Lithosols 1200 1030 33° 46’ E 14° 35’ E Bembeke 15.0 Lithosols 1600 1500 34° 43’ S second after cassava in Malawi (Chipungu et al., 1999). three agro-ecological zones of Malawi. Sweetpotato are mainly grown for human consumption and take different forms according to a particular locality. MATERIALS AND METHODS In Malawi, both roots and leaves are extensively utilized. Traditionally, peeled roots are boiled and groundnuts Sites and farmers selection flour is added to produce local food product, futali. Sweet potato also forms part of the breakfast for the majority of The first phase of this study was conducted at three sites representing three different agro-ecological zones of Malawi. The both rural and urban dwellers in the country. Harvested sites were Bembeke in Dedza District representing the high altitude, leaves are also utilized as delicious relish when cooked cool and wet plateau zone, Bunda in Lilongwe District representing after adding groundnuts flour. middle altitude warm plain zone and Maseya in Chikhwawa District Use of orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) has representing low altitude hot and dry agro ecological zone (Table become a promising intervention in addressing vitamin A 1). Classification of the agro ecological zones was based on deficiency (VAD) which according to Kapinga et al. altitude, soil conditions, temperatures and amount of rainfall (Saka et al., 2006; Kathabwalika et al., 2013). (2010) is at 32% level of the population in sub-Saharan Three farmers were selected to carry out the study at each site Africa. This is mainly due to the fact that sweet potato within agro ecological zone. Planting and management of sweet already exists in consumer diets of most communities potato genotypes were reported in the previous study by and OFSP have wide acceptance among women and Kathabwalika et al. (2013). During harvesting, fifteen sweet potato children (Kapinga et al., 2010) who are at great risk of tubers for each genotype were randomly sampled and collected VAD (NSO, 2006). from each farmer’s field in the three agro-ecological zones where the genotypes were grown. The samples were transported under Despite this potential, Malawi as a country faces cool conditions for laboratory analysis to reduce dehydration. challenges in successfully benefiting from OFSP. One of the major challenges is lack of improved varieties as the Sweet potato genotypes used current literature indicates that over 95% of sweet potato produced in Malawi is white or cream fleshed (Chipungu, Eight promising orange fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) genotypes 2008). These varieties are also responsible for the low sourced from Kasinthula Agricultural Research Station namely. beta-carotene as well as dry matter contents (Brabet et LU06/0299, LU06/0258, LU06/527, BV/009, LU06/0252, LU06/0428, al., 1999; Carey et al., 1999; Chipungu, 2009). It is Zondeni and Kenya, were selected for evaluation of their dry matter, starch and beta-carotene contents. Zondeni and Kenya, against this background that a series of on-station and both released varieties, were used as checks for beta-carotene on-farm trials on elite orange fleshed sweet potato content. Table 2 shows descriptions of the genotypes. genotypes was conducted across the country to evaluate growth, yield stability as well as beta-carotene content Determination of dry matter, starch and β-carotene content (Chipungu, 2009; Kathabwalika et al., 2013). However, there are contradicting findings on trend of Dry matter content was determined by oven drying triplicates of 5 g beta-carotene content in OFSP grown at different samples at 80°C for 24 h and quantified as DM% = dry weight/fresh altitudes. Studies conducted elsewhere have shown that weight x 100 (Kwach et al., 2010; Yildirim et al., 2011). For beta- carotene content, five roots of each genotype were manually cut an increase in altitude leads to subsequent increase in into small pieces of about 1 cm and mixed. The pieces were beta-carotene (Manrique and Hermann, 2000; Ndirigwe homogenized rapidly (2-3 min) to prevent enzymatic degradation of et al., 2007). On the other hand, beta-carotene content carotenoids. Celite and petroleum ether (PE) were used for showed no clear trends with increasing or decreasing extraction and partitioning of beta-carotene from prepared samples altitude in Tanzania (Mbwaga et al., 2007). Additionally, to get the filtrate (Rodriguez-Amaya and Kimura, 2004; Ukpabi and such studies have not been conducted in Malawi. Ekeledo, 2009). The filtrate for each sample was put in 1 x 1 cm cuvette and Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate dry absorbance readings were taken at λ = 450 nm to determine beta- matter, starch and beta-carotene content in orange- carotene content using UV/Vis spectrophotometer (Jenway 6405) fleshed sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) genotypes in and quantified as follows: beta-carotene (μg/100 g) = A x volume 322 Afr. J. Food Sci. Table 2. Genotype source, growth habit, skin and flesh colours, maturity in months after planting (MAP) and potential yield (t/ha). Maturity Potential yield Genotype Female parent/source Growth habit Skin colour Flesh colour (MAP) * (t/ha)* BV/009 LU96/374 Spreading Cream Deep orange 5 20-25 LU06/0252 Mafutha from RSA Spreading Purple Pale orange 5 25-30 LU06/0258 Kakoma (TIS 3017) from IITA Spreading Cream Yellow 5 20-25 LU06/0299 Kakoma (TIS 3017) Spreading Cream Yellow 5 20-25 LU06/0428 Mugamba (Mogamba, CIP, Nairobi) Spreading Cream Pale orange 3.5 30-35 LU06/0527 Kenya (SPN/O) Spreading Orange Orange 5 30-35 Kenya (SPN/O) Introduced cultivar Semi-erect Cream Pale yellow 4 to 5 25-30 Zondeni Local cultivar Erect Orange Deep orange 5 10-15 *Data obtained from on-station results during the initial stages of the genotypes evaluation (ml) × 104/Ac × sample weight (g) where A is the used to carry out stability analysis of beta-carotene content highest percentage of starch (27.7%) followed by absorbance, volume is the total volume of extract and Ac is for the genotypes and environments. Bunda (22.4%), while Maseya had the lowest the absorption coefficient of beta-carotene in petroleum percentage (21.5%). Genotypes percentage and ether (2592). For starch extraction, five raw tubers from the interaction between sites and genotypes were each genotype were randomly sampled, washed clean and RESULTS peeled. The peeled sweet potato samples were sliced with not significantly different (p>0.05) (Table 4). Kenya a knife and ground into small pieces after recording their recorded the highest starch content (27.3%) initial weight. Thereafter, they were placed in a mixture of Dry matter content across the agro ecological zones while the lowest water and stirred for one to two minutes. The grinding starch percentage (23.5%) was recorded in process was repeated for three to four times till a The interaction between genotype and environ- homogenous suspension was obtained.